Hosiery inspecting and stacking device



Dec. 13, 1960 R. E, FUQUA 2,964,221

HOSIERY INSPECTING AND STACKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 sSheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR 8W 0 I 96 9 I RoberzfEFupua 76 m III 434 J36 Mq W 06 ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 R. E. FUQUA 2,964,221

HOSIERY INSPECTING AND STACKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Robert EFL 9 ua WWW ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 R.E. FUQUA 2,964,221

HOSIERY INSPECTING AND STACKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS HOSIERY INSPECTING AND STACKING DEVICE RobertE. Fuqua, Padncah, Ky., assignor to Marvel Specialty Company, Inc.,Paducah, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Sept. 29, 1958, Ser. No.763,897

17 Claims. (Cl. 223-43) This invention relates to apparatus forinspecting and stacking hosiery, and more particularly to an improvedstacking device whose action is correlated with the hosiery inspectionoperation.

Devices of this type in general include a hollow tubular inspection formsupported at one end so a hose to be inspected may he slipped over theunsupported end of the form in an inside-out condition and inspected.After inspection is completed, a flow of air is induced through the formin a direction away from the unsupported end. The flow of air draws thehose into the tube by first withdrawing the toe end of the hose into thetube. As the hose enters the tube, it is averted or turnedright-side-out and transferred through the interior of the inspectionform to an outlet. At the outlet, a stacking device may grasp the toeend of the hose and transfer it from the discharge end of the inspectionform to a stacking table. Frequently, means are provided for inducing aflow of air through the transfer passage in the opposite direction toassist the operator in placing a hose on the inspection form, thedischarge of air from this end serving to blow-up the hose as it isbeing inserted on the form.

Because of the relatively light weight and high degree of pliability ofhose, correlation of the operation of the inspection device and stackingdevice frequently has resulted in extremely complex control mechanismsfor inter-relating the operation of the two devices. An additionalproblem which arises where the machine must be used on hose of varyingsize and weight involves the rate of flow of air through the tube. Aflow rate high enough to transfer heavier hose is frequently too highfor lighter weight hose and compacts and disarranges the lighter hoseduring transfer through the tube, making orderly stacking difficult.

The function of the stocking device is to transfer hose from theinspection device to a stacking location and during this transferoperation straightening the hose to its full length. Both pneumatic andmechanical arrangements foraccomplishing this stacking operation havebeen developed. In mechanical arrangements, the toe end of the hose isgrasped by a gripping device, moved to the stacking station andreleased. In the usual case, the opening and closing the gripping deviceis accomplished by various cam arrangements which require specialdriving means.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a hosiery inspectionand stacking device in which a mechanical stacking device may beoperated pneumatically from the pressure source employed to induce flowof air through the inspection part of the device.

It is another primary object of the invention to provide a hosieryinspection and stacking device in which the inspecting and stackingportions of the device are operated from a common source of air underpressure from a single control.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stackingdevice for positively gripping the hosiery inspection device andstacking device in which hose of widely varying weights may be deliveredto the stacking device in condition for orderly stacking.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved in a device having astacking means which includes a pair of arms mounted for relativemovement. A gripping device is connected between the arms to be operatedbetween an open and closed position by relative movement between thearms. The gripping device is so arranged as to define a limit torelative movement between the arms in one direction and thereby, whenclosed, serves to create a driving connection from one arm to the other.Limit stops position the arms relative to each other to open thegripping device at the stacking station. A pneumatic motor is connectedto the one arm to drive the arm in a manner moving both arms to move thegripping device between a receiving location and a stacking location.Movement of the driven arm closes the gripping device to grip a hose andthe gripping device couples the other arm to be driven with the drivenarm to the stacking station. When the gripping device arrives at thestacking station, the other arm is accelerated toward the driven arm toopen the gripping device and accelerate the gripping device away fromthe hose. The arms are spring biased to return to the receiving positionwhen the air motor is vented. The air motor is coupled to the hosieryinspection portion of the machIne to supply air under pressure to themotor upon the induction of flow of air through the inspecting portionin one direction and to vent the air motor upon the induction of flowthrough the inspection portion in the opposite direction. A single valvecontrols the flow of air in either direction through the inspectionportion of the machine and simultaneously operates the pneumaticallycontrolled stacking device toward or away from the receiving station inaccordance with the di rection of flow of air through the inspectingportion of the machine.

To prevent balling of the hose during transfer or compacting at thereceiving location, a bypass conduit is connected in parallel with thetransfer tube in the inspection portion of the machine. A throttlingvalve in the bypass conduit may be adjusted to control the rate of flowof air through the transfer tube.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent byreference to the foliowing specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the machine of Fig. 1 taken on line22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a respective view showing the physical relationship of variouspassages and conduits in the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view, partially in section, of a portion of thestacking device;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 andshowing details of the control valve; and

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detailed plan views of the stacking deviceshowing the sequence of operation and relative movement of the variousparts of the device.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine shown in the drawingsincludes a fixed frame and housing assembly designated generally at 20upon which is mounted a projecting elongated hollow tubular inspectionform 22. In the usual case, the external surface of form 22 includes aplurality of radially projecting ribs 24. As best Patented Dec. 13, 1960I seen in Fig. 2, inspection form 22 project forwardly well beyond thefront side 26 of the housing and the outer end of form 22 presents aprojection over which a sock or stocking, indicated in dotted lines at Sin Fig. 2, may be slipped for purposes of inspection by the machineoperator.

Form 22 is hollow and open at both ends. The supported end of form 22 isfixed to frame 21) and connected to a curved hosiery transfer tube 28 insuch amanner that the passage through form 22 definesan inlet to tube28. At its opposite end, the outlet 38 of tube 28 is surrounded by aplurality of conveying wire fingers 31 which function to catch andretain hose discharged from tube 28 in position to bereceived by astacking'device to'be described below.

A motor 32 is mounted Within housing 28 and is connected by suitablemeans 34 to drive an air compressor 36 which is connected by'conduit 38to a storage tank or accumulator 40. Conduit 38 is the outlet ofcompressor 36; preferably, the inlet conduit 42 of the compressor isprovided with afilter indicatedat 44 in Fig. 2.

A first conduit 46 is connected between storage tank 40 and tube 28. Asbest seen in Fig. 3, tube 28 curves downwardly after it passes throughfront wall 26 of the housing. Conduit 46 is connected to open into tube28 at the aforementioned curved section in such a manner that the axisof conduit 46 at the point of connection is {substantially coaxial withoutlet 38 so that air is'discharged into the passage defined by tube 28directly toward outlet 30.

A second conduit 48 extends from tank '40 to a conduit 50. A relativelysmall diameter conduit section 52 of conduit 50 connects conduit 48 totube 28 in a manner such that air discharged into the passage defined bytube 28 from conduit section 52 flows through the passage in a directionaway from outlet 30. In otherwords, conduits 46 and 52 are connected totube 28 in such a manner as to cause air to flow through tube 28 inopposite directions.

The valve assembly shown in Fig. is employed to connect one or the otherof conduits 46 and 48 to the air supply maintained within tank 48. Asbest seen in Fig. 5, the valve assembly includes a shutter 54* which ispivotally supported as at 56 to rotate in face to face engagement withthe inner surface of end wall 58 of tank 40. Pivotal support 56 ofshutter 54 takes the form of a shaft 60 which is journaled in end wall58 and passes through the end wall for connection to a. crank 62 whichis coupled, by link 64 and arm 66 to a foot pedal FP located adjacentthe front wall 26 of housing 28.

Shutter 54 is shown in Fig. 5 in the position which it assumes when footpedal FF is in its uppermost position and conduit 48 is opened to theinterior of tank 40. When the machine operator steps on and depressesfoot pedal FP, link 64 is pulled downwardly in Fig. 5 to pivot shutter54 about its pivotalmounting56 in acounterclockwise direction to openconduit 46 to the interior of tank 40 and concurrently blockcommunication between conduit 48 and the interior of tank &8. Suitablespring means (not shown) may be used to bias foot pedal FP to its upperposition.

Conduit 48 is also connected by conduit 58 to a pneumatically operatedbellows 68 mounted on the exterior of front wall 26 in a position tooperate a stacking assembly designated generally at 70.

To regulate the rate of flow of airfrom conduit- 46 through outlet 30, abypass conduit 72 is connected between conduit 46 and conduit 50 inparallel with tube 28. A throttling valve TV is connected in bypassconduit 72, and by adjusting the opening of valve TV, a selected portionof the flow of air through conduit 46 may be conducted through bypassconduit 72 and discharged into tube-28 from conduit section 52 inopposition to flow of airin tube 28 toward outlet 30. Bypass conduit 72is similarly effective on flow through tube 28 in the oppositedirection, however the rate of discharge through outlet 30 is of greaterconcern in the prevention of balling or compacting of hose duringtransfer through tube 28.

Referring especially to Figs. 2 and 4, stacking device 70 is mountedupon the fixed frame and housing 28 by upper and lower frame members 74and 76 respectively. Frame members 74 and -76 are rigidly secured at oneend to the side of frame or housing 28 and are joined at their outerends by a vertically extending frame plate 78 which is rigidly secured,as by welding, to both of frame members 74 and 76. Upper and lowerbearing blocks 80 and 82 are bolted to one side of frame plate 78 and avertically extending hollow tubular sleeve 84 is journaled in bearingblocks 88 and 82 for rotation about a vertical axis. A collar 86 isfixedly secured to sleeve 84 immediately above the lower bearing block.A rigid crank arm 88 is fixedly secured to collar 86 and is connected bypin 90 which passes through the outer end of crank 88, to an extension92 coupled to a drive rod 94 operated by bellows 68. As best seen inFig. 4, crank 88 has a downwardly projecting pin 86 which is connectedby tension spring 98 to a lug 99 fixed to the frame of bellows 68.Spring 98 acts as a return spring which continuously biases sleeve 84 ina clockwise direction when viewed from above as in Fig. 2.

Rotation of sleeve 84 in the aforementioned clockwise direction islimited by the abutment between an adjustable stop assembly 100 withplate 78. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 6, adjustable stop assembly 108includes a collar 102 fixed to sleeve 84, an arm 104 fixed to collar182, and adjusting screw 106 threaded through arm 184, and a locknut 188for locking screw 106 in an adjusted position within arm 104. Referencenumerals 102 through 106 have been applied only in Fig. 4 due to lack ofspace in Fig. 6.

Immediately above upper bearing block 80 an arm 118 is fixedly securedto sleeve 84 for rotation therewith. Intermediate the ends of arm 110,an arm 112 is rigidly fixed, as by welding, to arm to project at rightangles from one side of arm 110. At its outer end, arm 110 is pivotallycoupled as at 114 to one end of a connecting link 116. At its oppositeend, link 116 is pivotally connected as at 118 to a feeler arm 120 whichis pivotally supported at one end as at 122 in a fixed plate 124 whichis welded to upper frame member 74- and projects horizontally from theframe member. As is apparent from a comparison from Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9feeler arm 128 is pivoted for movement about its pivotal support 122 inaccordance with the rotative position of arm 110. The free outer end offeeler mm 120 has a roller 126 mounted upon arm 120 for rotation about avertical axis.

A second adjustable stop assembly 128 is mounted upon sleeve34immediately below lower bearing block 82. Stopassembly 128 isconstructed in the same manner as adjustable stop assembly 100 and islocated to engage plate 78 to define a limit to counterclockwisemovement (when viewed from above) of sleeve '84.

An elongated shaft 130 is received within sleeve 84 for coaxial rotationrelative to sleeve 84. Shaft 138 projects axially from sleeve 84 both atthe upper and lower end of the sleeve. At the lower end of shaft 1'38, acollar 132 is fixedly secured to the shaft and a crank arm 134 issecured, as-by welding, to the collar 132.- At the outer end of crankarm 134, a downwardly projecting pin 136 forms a connection for one endof athe pper end-of shaft 130 (Fi ,.1 semndconar The opposing finger 150of the gripping assembly ispivotally mounted upon arm 142 as by a pivotpin 152. As best seen in Figs. 6 through 9, gripping finger 150 isextended beyond arm 142 and is coupled by a rigid link 154 to the distalend of arm 110 by means of a pivotal connection 156 between link 154 andgripping finger 150 and a second pivotal connection 158 between the linkand arm 110. secured to sleeve 84 and rotates with the sleeve while arm142 is rigidly secured to shaft 130 and rotates with the shaft. Thus,relative rotation between sleeve 84 and shaft 130 may be employed toopen or close the gripping assembly defined by fingers 148 and 150.

A cam arm 160 is rigidly secured to arm 142 adjacent the supported endof the arm and is rigidly braced by a supporting member 162 which iswelded at its respective ends to arm 142 and cam arm 160. Cam arm 160 isso located as to present a cam surface defined by the inclined outeredge 164 which is located to engage roller 126 on feeler arm 128 whenthe stacking device 70 is in the positions shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

A fixed stop 166 is mounted upon plate 124 to define a limit toclockwise (Fig. 6) movement of arm 142.

Operation of the machine is as follows. As an initial condition, it willbe assumed that foot pedal FP is in its uppermost position which willplace valve shutter 54 in the position shown in Fig. 5that is withconduit 46 blocked from communication with the air supply contained intank 40 and conduit 48 opened to permit air to flow from the interior oftank 40 into the conduit 48. Air flows from conduit 48 through conduitsection 52 and is discharged into the passage defined by tube 28 in adirection toward the opening at the outer end of inspection form 22. Inaddition, air flowing through conduit 48 passes through conduit 52 intobellows 68 expanding the bellows and thus driving drive rod 94 to itsfully extended position, shown in Fig. 2, thus causing stacking assembly70 to assume the full line position shown in Fig. 2.

The machine operator commences a cycle of operation by taking a sock tobe inspected and placing it on inspection form 22 in the positionillustrated by the broken lines S in Fig. 2. This operation isfacilitated by the discharge of air from conduit section 52 through theopen end of inspection form 22 where the sock is placed on inspectionform 22 in an inside-out condition. With the sock S on form 22, themachine operator inspects the sock for flaws. Assuming that the sockbeing inspected is satisfactory, the operator depresses foot pedal FP toshift valve shutter 54 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to blockcommunication between the interior of tank 40 and conduit 48, therebystopping the fiow of air through conduit 48 to bellows 68 via conduit 50and to tube 28 via conduit 52. As conduit 48 is blocked by valve shutter54, conduit 46 is opened and placed in communication with the air supplywithin tank 40. Air then flows from the interior of tank 46 throughconduit 46 which, as described above, is connected to tube 28 in amanner to discharge air from conduit 46 directly through outlet openingat 30.

The rate of flow of air from conduit 46 through outlet 30 is regulatedby adjusting throttling valve TV in bypass conduit 72. Adjustment of therate of flow of air in this manner is desirable since too high a flowrate tends to It will be recalled that arm 110 is rigidly ball up thesock inthe passage or to compact it in retaining fingers 31' and thusrender orderly stacking difiicult.

The rapid flow of air outwardly through outlet 30 creates a suctionwithin tube 28 which induces a flow of air through tube 28 from theopening at the outer end of inspection form 22. The induction of airflow in this direction pulls the toe end of the sock S into the interiorof form 22, thus turning the sock from its inside-out condition to aright-side-out condition as the sock enters the tube defined by form 22.Sock S is thus everted and sucked into the interior of inspection form20 and transferred, by the flow of air induced by discharge of air fromconduit 46 through outlet 30, through tube 28 and out through outlet 30where it is caught and retained by spring fingers 31.

When the shifting valve shutter 54 stops flow of air through conduit 48,the free communication between conduit 50, conduit 52 and the interiorof tube 28 permits bellows 68 to be vented. Stacking assembly 70 isretracted by springs 98 and 138 to move from the full line position ofFig. 2 in a clockwise direction to the extreme limit of movementrepresented by the broken line showing of Fig. 2. In order to move inthis direction, stacking device 70 must drive rod 94 back toward bellows68, and thus the above mentioned clockwise movement of stacking device70 can occur only when bellows 68 is vented through conduit 50 into tube28. When stacking assembly 70 is at its extreme clockwise limit ofmovement, the various parts of the stacking device are in the positionshown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that further clockwise movementof sleeve 84, and hence arm 110 is prevented by the engagement betweenadjustable stop assembly 100 and plate 78. Arm 142 is prevented fromfurther movement in a clockwise direction by the engagement of arm 142and stop 166 on fixed plate 124. With arms and 142 at their respectivelimits of clockwise movement, the angular displacement between the armsis such that link 15-4 forces movable gripper finger away from fixedgripping finger 148 to place the gripping means in theiropen position.The parts of stacking assembly 70 remain in the Fig. 6 position as longas foot pedal FF is held depressed by the operator.

Ordinarily, the operator will hold foot pedal FP depressed only longenough for stacking assembly 70 to move into the Fig. 6 position. Theoperator then releases foot pedal PP and reaches for another sock toplace upon inspection form 22. When the operator releases foot pedal FPit returns to its upper position, thus shifting valve shutter 54 back tothe position shown in Fig. 5. As previously explained, this permits airto flow from tank 40 through conduit 48 to be discharged into tube 28and also to be conducted by conduit 50 to bellows 68. As air passes fromconduit 50 into the bellows, the bellows begin to expand and drive rod94 starts to move toward its fully extended position. At the same time,

air is being discharged from the open end of inspection form 22 toassist the operator in placing the next sock to be inspected upon form22.

As drive rod 94 begins to be extended from bellows 68, sleeve 84 isdriven in counterclockwise rotation (Figs. 6 and 7) by virtue of theconnection between drive rod 94 and crank 88 which is secured to sleeve84. Since arm 110 is rigidly connected to sleeve 84 it is rotated in acounterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6 to theposition shown in Fig. 7. During this initial portion of the rotarymovement of arm 110, arm 142 remains stationary since it is firmlybiased against its stop 166 by spring 138. Thus, a slight amount ofrelative angular movement occurs between arm 110 and arm 142. Thisrelative movement is employed to move gripping finger 150 from the openposition of Fig. 6 to the closed position of Fig. 7 by virtue of thecoupling link 154 which comes finger 156 to arm llo'." As finger150"rrioves to its "closed'p'osition; the sock 'S'sup'p'orted in wirefingers 142, fu'rther'rotative movement of arm 110 in a counterclockwise direction is transmitted through gripping finger 148 to arm142. Thus, continued rotation of arm 1 from the Fig. 7 position to theFig. 8 position causes arm 142 to follow arm 110 by virtue of theabutment between grippingfingers 150 and 148. Since 'SOck S isinterposed between the gripping fingers, the sock'is pulled free of wirefingers'31 and is carried, by the rotation of stacking assembly 70 to alocation above a stacking surface or table indicated in broken line at Tin Fig. 2 As the stick is pulled free of-gripping fingers 31, it isstraightened to itsfull length both by thereta'rding grip of fingers 31and by; theflow' of air into tube 28 induced'by the discharge of airfrom the inlet end of tube 28.

By virtue of the connection between arm 110 and feeler'arm 120througharm 112 and link 116, feeler arm 120 is likewise forced to follow therotary movement of arm 110. As stacking assembly 70 approaches thestacking station, roller 126 at the distal end of feeler 120 comes intocontact with cam' surface 164 which, as stated above, is mountedin fixedrelationship to arm 142. Roller 126 moves into engagement with camsurface 164 just prior to the engagement between stop 128 and plate 78.As arm 110 moves through the final portion of its counterclockwisemovement, from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. 9, roller126 is forcibly driven against cam surface 164 and this actionaccelerates arm 142 to reduce the angular displacement between arm 142and arm 110 as arm 110 goes into its stop. The decrease in angulardisplacement between the arms caused by the engagement between roller126 and surface 164 causes link 154 to drive gripping finger 150 awayfrom fixed gripping finger 148 to thereby release sock S and permitthe'sock to drop onto the stacking surface T. This completes one cycleof operation of the machine.

While I have shown but one embodiment of'my invention, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the structure disclosed may bemodified. Therefore, the foregoing description is' to be consideredexemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of myinvention isthat defined in the'follo'wing claims.

I claim:

1. A hosiery inspection and stacking machine comprising meansdefining ahosiery "transfer passage havlng a hosiery inlet at one end and ahosiery outlet at the other end, a hosiery inspection form on theexterior of the transfer passage defining' means at the hosiery inletend thereoflmeans for causing air to flow from said outlet to said inletto facilitate application of hosiery to the form, a stacking devicemovable'along a path between said'outlet and a stacking location, andmeansoperated' simultaneously'withthe'last named means-to move saidstackingd'evice from said outlet to said stacking location.

2: A hosiery inspection and stacking machine comprising means defining ahosiery transfer passage having a hosiery inlet at one end and a hosieryoutlet at the other end, a hosiery inspection form on the exterior ofthe transferpassage defining means at the hosiery inlet end thereof, astacking device movable-along a path between said outlet and a stackinglocation, a pump for supplying air underpressure, first means forconnecting said 1 pump to saidpassage to cause air to flow within saidpassage from said inlet to said outlet to transfer'hosiery from saidform to said outlet, second means for connecting said pump to saidpassage to cause air to flow from said outlet to said inlet, and an airmotor coupled to drive said stack- 8 means defining 'a passage fortransferring hose from an inspection form to an outlet, and a stackingdevice movable ineither direction over a path extending from said outletto a stacking station; air supply means connected to said passage andoperable in a first condition to induce a flow of air through saidpassage in one direction to evert a hose on said form-and transfer saidhose to said outlet and operable in a second condition to induce a flowof .air through said passage in the opposite direction,'control meansfor selectively establishing said supply means in said first or saidsecond condition, pneumatic means for driving said stacking device inone direction on said path, conduit means connecting said pneumaticmeans to said supply means to cause said pneumatic means to drive saidstacking device in said one direction when said supply means isin saidfirst condition, and means for driving said stacking device in theopposite direction when said supplymeans is in said second condition.

4; In a hosiery everting and stacking device having means defining apassage for transferring hose from an inspection form to an outlet, anda stacking device movable in either direction over a path extending fromsaid outlet to a stacking station; air supply means operable in a firstcondition to induce a flow of air through said passage in one directionto evert a hose on said form and transfer said hose to said outlet andoperable in a second conditionto induce a flow of air through saidpassage in the opposite direction, pneumatic means operable whenconnected to said supply means to drive said stacking device from saidoutlet to said stacking station and operable when vented to permitmovement of said stacking device from said stacking station to saidoutlet, and conduit means connecting said pneumatic means to said supplymeansto drive said stacking device in said first direction when saidsupply means is in said first condition and to vent said pneumatic meanswhen said supply means is in said second condition.

5. In a hosiery everting and stacking device having means defining apassage for transferring hose from an inspection form to an outlet, anda stacking device movable in either direction over a path extending fromsaid outlet to a stacking station; air supply means, first conduit meansconnected to said passage to discharge air into said passage in adirection toward said outlet when said first conduit means is connectedto said air supply means, second conduit means connected to said passageto discharge air into said passage in a direction away from said outletwhen said second conduit is connected to said air supply means,pneumatic means operable when connected to said air supply means todrive said stacking device from said outlet to said stacking station andoperable when vented to permit movement of said stacking device fromsaid stacking station to said outlet, third conduit means connectingsaid pneumatic means to said second conduit means, and means forselectively connecting said first conduit means or said second conduitmeans to said air supply means.

6'. A hosiery stacker or the like comprising gripping means actuable toan open and a closed position, a first arm supporting said grippingmeans for movement over a fixed path extending from a receiving locationto a stacking location, a second arm mounted for movement relative tosaidfirst arm over a path extending from a first end limit to a secondend limit, means for driving said second armfrom said first end limit tosaid second end limit, means biasing said first arm to actuate saidgripping means to said open position when said gripping means is locatedat said receiving location and said second arm is at said first endlimit, and means coupling said second arm to said gripping means toclose said gripping means upon movement of said second arm away fromsaid first end limit and to thereupon drive said first arm to move saidgripping means away from said receiving location.

7'. A" hosiery stacker 'or'the'like as defined "in claim 6 9 whereinsaid gripping means comprises a first finger fixed to said first arm anda second finger mounted on said first arm for movement toward and awayfrom said first finger, said coupling means being connected to saidsecond finger to move said second finger toward or away from said firstfinger in accordance with relative movement between said first and saidsecond arms.

8. A hosiery stacker or the like comprising gripping means actuable toan open and to a closed position, a first arm supporting said grippingmeans for movement over a fixed path extending from a receiving locationto a stacking location, a second arm mounted for movement relative tosaid first arm over a path extending from a first end limit to a secondend limit, means biasing said first arm to locate said gripping means atsaid receiving location, means coupling said second arm to said grippingmeans to open said gripping means at said receiving station when saidsecond arm is at said first end limit and to close said gripping meansupon movement of said second arm away from said first end limit, meansfor driving said second arm from said first end limit to said second endlimit, and means engageable between said first and said second arms toopen said gripping means when said second arm is at said second endlimit.

9. A hosiery stacker or the like comprising a first arm and a second armeach mounted for pivotal movement relative to the other about a commonaxis, gripping means connected between said first arm and said secondarm to be opened by pivotal movement by said first arm in one directionrelative to said second arm and to be closed by pivotal movement of saidfirst arm in the opposite direction relative to said second arm, saidgripping means being operable in its closed position to prevent furthermovement of said first arm in said opposite direction relative to saidsecond arm, means connected to said second arm for driving said secondarm in pivotal movement about said axis between first and second endlimits, first means operable when said second arm is at said first endlimit to locate said first arm relative to said second arm to open saidgripping means, and second means operable when said second arm is atsaid second end limit to locate said first arm relative to said secondarm to open said gripping means.

10. A hosiery stacker or the like comprising a first arm and a secondarm each mounted for pivotal movement relative to the other about acommon axis, gripping means connected between said first arm and saidsecond arm to be opened by pivotal movement of said first arm in onedirection relative to said second arm and to be closed by pivotalmovement by said first arm in the opposite direction relative to saidsecond arm, said gripping means being operable in its closed position toprevent further movement of said first arm in said opposite directionrelative to said second arm, first stop means defining a first end limitto movement of said second arm in a first direction about said axis,second stop means defining a second end limit to movement of said secondarm in the opposite direction about said axis, third stop means definingan end limit to pivotal movement of said first arm in said firstdirection about said axis at a location where said gripping means ismaintained in said open position when said first and said second armsare at their respective limits of movement in said first direction,means for driving said second arm from said first end limit to saidsecond end limit, and resilient means biasing said first arm against thelimit defined by said third stop means to induce relative movement ofsaid first arm in said opposite direction relative to said second armand thereby bias said gripping means to said closed position uponmovement of said second arm away from its first end limit.

11. A hosiery stacker or the like as defined in claim 10 including meansengageable between said first and said second arms to open said grippingmeans when said second arm is at said second end limit.

12. A hosiery stacker or the like as defined in claim 11 wherein saidengageable means comprises a member movable with said second arm andengageable with said first arm to accelerate said first arm in saidopposite direction about said axis to open said gripping device andaccelerate said gripping device in said opposite direction about saidaxis.

13. In a hosiery inspection and everting device including an open endedtransfer tube having an inspection form at one end thereof; air supplymeans, first conduit means connected to said tube to induce a flow ofair through said tube in one direction when said first conduit means isconnected to said air supply means to thereby evert a hose on saidinspection form by drawing said hose from said form into said one end ofsaid transfer tube, second conduit means connected to said tube toinduce a flow of air through said tube in a direction opposite to saidone direction when said second conduit means is connected to said airsupply means to expel air from said one end of said tube to assist inplacing a hose to be inspected upon said inspection form, means forselectively connecting said first conduit means or said second conduitmeans to said air supply means, and third conduit means connecting saidfirst and said second conduit means to each other, said third conduitmeans including flow regulating means to control the rate of flow of airthrough said third conduit means. 7

14. A hosiery inspection and stacking machine comprising a tube having ahosiery receiving passage extending from a hosiery inlet at one end ofthe tube to a hosiery outlet at the other end of the tube, a form forreceiving hosiery for inspection at said one end of the tube, a stackingdevice movable along a path between said out let and a stackinglocation, a pump for supplying air under pressure, first means forconnecting said pump to said passage to cause air to fiow within saidpassage from said inlet to said outlet to transfer hosiery from saidform to said outlet, second means for connecting said pump to saidpassage to cause air to flow from said outlet to said inlet, flowregulating means connected between said first means and said secondmeans and adjustable to regulate the rate of flow of air through saidtube, and an air motor coupled to drive said stacking device andconnected to said pump by said second means to drive said stackingdevice from said outlet to said stacking location.

15. A hosiery inspection and stacking machine comprising means defininga hosiery transfer passage extending from a hosiery inlet end to ahosiery outlet end, a hosiery inspection form on the exterior of thetransfer passage defining means adjacent said hosiery inlet end, airsupply means connected to said passage operable in a first condition tocause air to flow through said passage from said inlet end to saidoutlet end to transfer hosiery from said form to said outlet andoperable in a second condition to expel air from said passage outwardlythrough the hosiery inlet end of said passage to facilitate theapplication of hosiery to said inspection form, stacking means movablealong a path extending from said hosiery outlet to a stacking location,means operable by said air supply means when in said second conditionfor driving said stacking means from said outlet to said stackinglocation, and means operable when said air supply means is in said firstcondition to return said stacking means to said outlet.

16. A hosiery inspection and stacking machine comprising means defininga hosiery transfer passage extending from a hosiery inlet end to ahosiery outlet end, a hosiery inspection form on the exterior of saidtransfer passage defining means adjacent said inlet end, air supplymeans connected to said passage and operable in a first condition tocause air to flow through said passage from said inlet end to saidoutlet end to transfer hosiery from said form to said outlet end andoperable in a second condition to expel air from said passage outwardlythrough said hosiery inlet to facilitate the application of hosiery tosaid inspection form,- stacking means "movable along a path extendingfrom said outlet to'a stacking location, means biasing said stackingmeans to said outlet, gripping means on said stacking means operableupon movement of said stacking means from said outlet toward saidstacking location to grip hosiery located at said hosiery outlet and torelease hosiery upon arrival of said stacking means at said stackinglocation, and means operable by saidair supply means when in said secondcondition for driving said stacking means from said outlet to saidstacking location.

17. A hosiery inspection and stacking machine comprising means defininga hosiery transfer passage extending from a hosiery inlet end to ahosiery outlet end, a hosiery inspection form on the exterior of thetransfer passage defining means at said inlet end, air supply means forsupplying air under pressure to said passage, a two position valveconnected to said air supply means operable in a first position todischarge air from air supply means into said passage in a directiontoward said hosiery:

outlet to induce a fiow of air *through said passage toward said outletend and operable in its other position to'discharge airfrom said airsupply means into said passage in a direction toward the inlet end ofsaid passage,

to saidstacking location, and means operable when said valve is in saidone position for returning said stacking means from said stackinglocation to said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,593,825 Higgins July 27, 1926 2,722,348 Ammon Nov. 1, 1955 2,811,267Bock Oct. 29, 1957

